Group Communication Sessions with Adaptive Media Buffering

Solution Overview

Problem

Virtual group watching sessions face challenges in maintaining sufficient bandwidth for both media content streaming and video conferencing, as the combined bandwidth requirements often exceed available resources, leading to reduced streaming quality and impaired communication experiences.

Innovation Solution

A system that dynamically adjusts media content buffering and communication modes based on available bandwidth and user preferences, prioritizing video conferencing during segments of interest by pre-buffering content and switching to stored segments to free up bandwidth for video communication.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If video conferencing is enabled during group watching session, then communication quality is improved, but available bandwidth for media content streaming is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication qualityVSAvoidavailable bandwidth

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The system pre-loads media content segments into local memory before they are needed for playback. When video conferencing is initiated, the system can switch from streaming to playing pre-loaded content, thereby freeing up bandwidth for video communication while maintaining uninterrupted media playback.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts the media content delivery mode based on current bandwidth availability. When video conferencing is active and bandwidth is constrained, the system switches from real-time streaming to using pre-loaded buffered content, allowing flexible adaptation between streaming and communication modes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Manufacturing precision

If media content is streamed in high quality, then streaming quality is improved, but bandwidth consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestreaming qualityVSAvoidbandwidth consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The system pre-loads media content segments into local memory before they are needed for playback. When video conferencing is initiated, the system can switch from streaming to playing pre-loaded content, thereby freeing up bandwidth for video communication while maintaining uninterrupted media playback.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the delivery parameter of media content from real-time streaming to buffered playback based on bandwidth conditions. By switching to pre-loaded content when bandwidth is constrained, the system maintains high-quality playback without requiring continuous high-bandwidth streaming.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Adaptability or versatility

If video conferencing and media streaming occur simultaneously, then communication and entertainment functions are improved, but system performance deteriorates due to bandwidth constraints

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication and entertainment functionsVSAvoidsystem performance

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system pre-loads media content segments into local memory before they are needed for playback. When video conferencing is initiated, the system can switch from streaming to playing pre-loaded content, thereby freeing up bandwidth for video communication while maintaining uninterrupted media playback.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts the media content delivery mode based on current bandwidth availability. When video conferencing is active and bandwidth is constrained, the system switches from real-time streaming to using pre-loaded buffered content, allowing flexible adaptation between streaming and communication modes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS20250330682A1Methods and systems for initiating a group communication session

Publication Date: 2025.10.23 ADEIA GUIDES INC

AI summary

Systems and methods are described for operating a group watching session. Group communication is initiated for a group watching session displaying a media content item. A bandwidth available to at least one computing device participating in the group watching session is determined. A group communication mode for a segment of the media content item is determined. A communication parameter of the group communication and/or a buffering parameter for the media content item is set in response to determining the group communication mode for the segment of the media content item and the bandwidth available to each computing device participating in the group watching session.